Monthly Archives: September 2017

Imagine a magical cellphone that didn’t need to be charged to make calls. Well, Vamsi Talla has built just that, a single board cellphone that doesn’t need to be charged and doesn’t even have a battery.

So how does it work? The phone receives power through sunlight or RF waves from cellphone towers, the phone then uses a process called backscattering to make a call by modifying and reflecting those waves back to the tower. Just like I thought, magic. The phone runs on magic.

The phone can even make Skype calls, which further proves that it’s a form of black magic. And while in use, the phone only consumes 3 microwatts of power, while a standard smartphone uses about 10,000 times that.

With this innovation, smartphones could one day be able to make simple call, even when their battery is completely dead. Talla plans to add an e-ink display for very basic functions, and hopes the phone could eventually be a cheap solution for people in third-world countries as it currently only costs about $1 to produce.

Startup company Moona, has debuted a Kickstarter project that hopes to improve your sleep with a pillow pad that can regulate your pillow’s temperature. The device looks simple, but offers a lot of functionality as once the pad is slipped into your pillow case, it can keep your pillow cool with water flow, much like water cooling a computer processor.

But there’s more to the Moona than just keeping your head cool, the pad will regulate the pillow’s temperature as you sleep, making it cooler to keep you asleep, and gently warming the pillow when it’s time to wake up.

For me, I’ve always been a colder is better person, and nothing beats a cool pillow. So, the idea of have a water-cooled pillow pad is actually a pretty interesting one. I’m just not sure how much to believe in the promises of improved sleep, or relying on my head warming up as a substitute for setting an alarm on my phone.

It’s a great idea, but at $400, you really have to want those features that claim to improve your sleep cycle, as well as cash to burn. For me, I’ll just hope someone brings a similar device that only water-cools the pillow pad, because I’d gladly pay for a pillow that stays cool.

Breathe comfortably, knowing that your indoor air is fresh and clean. The GermGuardian Elite 4-in-1 Cleaning System has a HEPA Filter that captures 99.97% of dust and small allergens like pet dander, mold spores, plant pollen, and household dust. It is also equipped with UV-C light technology that kills airborne bacteria, viruses, germs, and mold spores. Get it for only $119 instead of $143 today.

If you want to control your non-smart home appliances (or just too lazy to bend down to push the “on” button), this Digital Gadgets Multi-Outlet Smart Power Strip can do the work for you. It’s is controllable via Wi-Fi and even works with Alexa for advanced home automation. You can also use the app to monitor the status and power usage. Plus, it has surge protection technology. It’s at a 34% discount today with a $59.49 price tag.

Now, if you want to control heavy-duty appliances, pick the Etekcity Light Timer Outlet. It can run up to 20 programs within a 7-day, 24-hour time frame and the battery (which runs for up to 6 months) can keep your settings saved without charging. Max load current for this is 15 A. Instead of $29.99, you can get it for only $13.99 today.

Founder of Kickstarter’s super successful Pebble project is back with a product which may not be right for you. An iPhone case designed to charge your AirPods on it’s back called the PodCase. Like the Hunchback of Notre Dame, the iPhone case turns your sleek beautiful piece of glass and metal into an iPhone being consumed by a tsunami of plastic, a brick sized bulge in your pocket that will have people thinking you’re rocking the Motorola DynaTAC.

Sure, the case can charge your phone, but at this point can we just all agree to using USB power banks? The AirPods themselves can be charged in their provided case and should never run out of juice if properly charged. It’s just odd, paying $159 to kick wired headphones out the door only to meet the hideously sized and looking PodCase and invite it into your house and make it a sandwich.

After being funded though Kickstarter, the PodCase will cost $99 which is the same price as the significantly sleeker Mophie Juice Pack which includes a wireless charging dock. But hey, what do I know?

You may not have heard of audio giant Shure, but they have been one of the largest and most successful audio companies of the last 100 years. Made famous by their grill-style microphone produced in the 50’s, their headphones are among the most favored by professionals, and just about every singer prefers their iconic professional in-ear monitors during live performances.

Well the company just announced two new pairs of Bluetooth in-ear headphones, a first for the company. The headphones feature sound isolation and a deep bass, delivering up to 8 hours of battery life. They’re offering the headphones in two flavors, a $99 and a $149 pair. The cheaper $99 pair has a fixed cable while the more expensive of the two has a detachable cable which can be used with any other Shure in-ear monitors, and the Bluetooth cable itself can be purchased for $99.

The slightly pricier SE215 seems to be the much more compelling of the two as along with the detachable cable, it offers better sound quality and a bendable behind?the?ear cable for better comfort and sound isolation, as well as being offered in black, clear blue and clear white, while the $99 pair is only available in black.

Both options are available now, and if you’re looking for a new workout pair of headphones, the Shure SE215 should be a very compelling offer.

You would almost always find headphones that are on sale on Amazon. Here are a few.

This is the Avantree Over-the-Ear Headphones that boasts a superior Hi-Fi Sound. Its excellent sound reproduction is almost comparable to the high-priced headphones in the market. What’s more is that it offers multipoint functionality, meaning you can connect up to 2 phones at once. You never have to miss a call again. Get it for only $41 today.

Next up is this TaoTronics Sports Headphones with 360-degree adaptable earhooks. They offer uber comfortable earbuds with a secure fit while you are active. They’re sweatproof and waterproof and they can withstand the rain and sweat. It’s also equipped with a noise-canceling mic. They’re only $23 today.

The Anker Soundbuds Curve Headphones is another workout headset that’s waterproof. It goes for up to 12.5 hours of constant playing and can deal with rain and sweat. It also has a CVC noise cancellation technology for clearer phone calls.

Are you in the process of planning a wedding? Have you come to find that you are already spending a lot more money than you thought you would? Are you looking for ways to save money on future expenses?

If you answered yes to these questions, you are in the same position as many others. With the average cost of a wedding right around $35,000, it goes without saying that you’ll be spending quite a bit of money as the planning process moves forward.
While shopping locally for some items is a good idea, others can be purchased online. Not only does this give you access to a larger selection of products, but it goes a long way in helping you save money as well.

Some products are easier to purchase online than others, but paying attention to trends will go a long way in helping you understand where to get the best deals.

It rained. Hard. Just when you watered your plants this morning, This wouldn’t have happened if you had the Rachio Smart Sprinkler Controller. It schedules your watering and does it smartly by checking in on your local weather forecast through the internet. It saves you up to 50% on your watering bill. Get it for only $146 instead of $200 today.

Next is the Chamberlain Garage Door Opener, which is a #1 Best Seller on Amazon. It automatically closes your garage door after 1, 5 or 10 minutes. Surely, you’ll never have to drive back if you remembered that you forgot to lock it down. It also operates with a belt drive and a vibration isolation system so it operates quietly. Instead of $230, you can get the set for only $178.

We all have heard of smart light bulbs, but the Warmoon E26 LED Light Bulb is quite different. First, it comes with a remote control that you can use to change the color and the brightness. And it remembers your last setting as long as it’s not turned off. If you need a simple colored LED remote-controllable bulb, then this is your bulb. It’s priced at only $10 instead of $60 today.

Give your kids the chance to pick out their perfect toys with the Toybox One-Touch 3D Toy Printer. This tabletop printer can create beautiful little models at the touch of a button. Via the companion smartphone app, you can browse through a catalog of over 500 toys. When your child sees something they like, you just tap to start printing.

OhGizmo! is a frequently updated blog that focuses on covering items that will appeal to a very specific and often very passionate audience: the geek. Aside from the fare of innovative consumer electronic products, the reader can expect to find news about geek culture, absurd inventions, awe inspiring technology, and an ever growing assortment of articles that we like to think fit within our view of what we’re calling the Geek Lifestyle.